Shadowing Practice: Jonathan Blow Recommends His Favourite Books - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
Recommend Video
B2i read a self-help book every day for a WEEK -- now i'm more confused than ever
B2Everything You Need To Start Making Games (As A Beginner)
B2Game Theory Scene | 21(2008) | Now Playing
B2you will never ask about pointers again after watching this video
B2How to Learn Faster with the Feynman Technique (Example Included)
B2The different levels of how Claude thinks
C1We've got separation of concerns wrong
B2How polyglots learn languages | The book that changed my life
B1Day In my Life as a Software Engineering Intern at Google
B2I'm ever so pleased to make your acquaintance
B2Updated Essential AI Skills For 2026
B210 Books That Will Get You OBSESSED With Reading
Speaking Goals for This Clip
This video is perfect for practicing conversational fluency and natural expression when discussing personal recommendations. It targets the IELTS speaking practice milestone of describing preferences clearly, using casual yet coherent language—key for Part 2 and 3 of the exam. You’ll learn to balance enthusiasm with clarity, a skill vital for real-world interactions and test success.
Phrase Bank
- "Very good, very approachable, very understandable" – A simple, repetitive structure to emphasize positivity.
- "Let's get this assert out of the way" – A conversational opener to set a direct tone (note: likely a slip for "Let's get this out of the way").
- "I really like this book. It is, you know, it's been a long time" – Using filler words ("you know") to sound natural, not scripted.
- "It is not a super practically oriented book" – A casual way to qualify a recommendation.
- "I doubt it will say anything about..." – Expressing uncertainty politely.
- "You are in not that bad of a position" – A relaxed phrase to highlight a positive outcome.
Fix Your Weak Spots
The dialogue’s rhythm is conversational, with pauses and filler words that mimic real speech. Use a shadowing site or try shadow speak to practice matching the speaker’s pace—this will improve your ability to speak smoothly without overthinking. Pay attention to how "you know" and "so" are used to connect ideas; mastering these small phrases will make your English sound more natural. For IELTS speaking practice, record yourself shadowing the video, then compare your tone and pauses to the original. This exercise helps fix stilted delivery and builds confidence in expressing opinions, a critical skill for high exam scores. Learning English with YouTube has never been more practical—this clip is a goldmine for refining everyday speaking skills.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | it's been |
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.